Oostende overcame a nervy performance against Lithuanian side Alita to come good in the 4th quarter and secure victory. More importantly the win should be enough to see them through to the play-offs, although final positions in Group A will be dependent on the remaining game between Azovmash and Le Havre.
Oostende began the game on fire, hitting 5/5 three-point shots. But it was Alita who took a small lead after 10 minutes, 23:26.
The home team changed tactics in the second quarter, opting for a smaller line-up and it seemed to pay off. Teo Cizmic hit consecutive 3-pointers for Oostende and they took a 47:40 lead into the halftime break.
Alhtough Alita’s play-off hopes had long since ended, they did not give up, fighting back in the 3rd period and regaining the lead. With their European season on the line, Oostende found their form in the final quarter.
Matthias Desaver led the charge as Oostende displayed the kind of aggressive play they needed to record the win. Desaver grabbed 4 offensive rebounds in the final period and scored 10 points to go along with 2 assists.
Alita countered through Martynas Andriukaitis, who scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, but he fouled out with the score at 76:73. The Alita bench protested the call a little too vigorously and were given a technical. Desaver calmly made the 3 free throws (the technical plus the original foul) and Oostende were home and dry.
5 players hit double figures for Oostende with Desaver (16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists) and Christophe Beghin (16 points and 9 rebounds) leading the way.
